What are the clergy reporting laws in your area?

by blondie 3 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  blondie

  New York's law on who MUST report child abuse.... the clergy is not one of them, sadly.

  This is one area every person can do something to deal with child abuse and the WTS. If your state does not require clergy to report and the WTS will and has hidden behind that, call your state legislator and find how to change that law. Get other people organized to do that.

  There is an organization called SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) that is lobbying strongly for that in all the states that do not have strong laws requiring clergy to report.

  http://www.snapnetwork.org/legislation/legisindex.htm

  http://www.snapnetwork.org/legislation/NY_clergyabuse_targeted.htm

  http://www.snapnetwork.org/legislation/write_your_rep.htm
• 

  blondie

  What are the clergy reporting laws in your area?

  Elders are trained to call WT Legal, call WT Legal, call WT Legal whenever a child sexual abuse case comes up. Why..........because the elders don't know what the laws are in their state........WT Legal wants to make sure they at least give the appearance of reporting to the secular authorities.

  But how many states require that.............what if all 50 required it.

  Only a small percentage of pedophiles are found under the KH roof. The vast majority are found in the home (yes, 60% are relatives of the victim), neighbors, teachers, coaches, law enforcement, judges, business people, etc., etc.

  Exposing the WTS will help some, but not the much larger problem of pedophiles preying on children.

  http://www.snapnetwork.org/

  This organization has been working on changing the reporting laws and increasing the statutes of limitations in all 50 states. Find out what you state's laws are and if they need beefing up. Check with your legislators.

  These are 2 very practical and wide-ranging ways to protect all children from predators when JW, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, etc., who hide behind the clergy-privilege law.

  Blondie
• 

  stillajwexelder

  They need improving Blondie that is for sure - we have a pedo in our cong.
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  cognizant dissident

  In BC, the clergy have to report. I know this because at least 3 molestors in nearby congregations were reported and arrested, spending time in jail. My father turned in one of them. He is such a rule follower. He wouldn't have done it if the society didn't tell him too. Pretty much anyone with any type of professional status whatsoever has to report suspected child abuse to the authorities. The reporting law is great. Unfortunately, the actual sentences given to the pedophiles range from a few months to a few years. 3 years is considered a long sentence. To do life in Canada, you have to actually kill the child and even then, life is rarely life. So the judicial system needs a major overhaul.

  Cog